Ericsson wants to invest in the Nigerian broadband market to further the Swedish company’s push into the Internet of Things (IoT) sector.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says that the technology company is interested in the deployment of innovative technology that will emphasis on the tripod of availability, accessibility and affordability of broadband.

The telecoms sector that has contributed 9.5% to Nigeria’s GDP by mid-2017 accounted for 92,975,682 Internet subscribers and 139,486,832 active line on mobile networks by September 2017, according to NCC.

The telecoms regulator says that officials of Ericsson that recently paid a courtesy visit to NCC office in Abuja said they have “studied the Nigerian telecom market and had speculated that the vast potentials of the market was yet to be fully harnessed and expressed interest in the deployment of Broadband to unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.”

According to the tech company, “Ericsson is interested in exploring the realities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G networks; huge data management; as well as providing cybersecurity solutions to enable network interoperability and traceability to check the use of cloned devices that pose threat to security.”

The Ericsson team of Shitlesi Makkhofane, Head Government and Industry Relations of Ericsson Group and Peter Olusoji of Ericsson Nigeria, told Sunday Dare the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management at NCC of the technology company’s focus for Nigeria.

According to the tech company, “Ericsson is interested in exploring the realities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G networks; huge data management; as well as providing cybersecurity solutions to enable network interoperability and traceability to check the use of cloned devices that pose threat to security.”

“The Company also said it is going to deploy the latest innovative technology to this end paying emphasis on the tripod of availability, accessibility and affordability of broadband – the leading item of NCC Management’s 8-Point Agenda.”, according to a statement by the telecoms regulator.

Meanwhile, the Ericsson officials expressed concern on dearth of foreign exchange and its implications for the development of telecommunications infrastructure and market.
On his part, Dare expressed NCC Management’s appreciation of the team’s visit as well as its knowledge and interest in the Nigerian telecom ecosystem.

The NCC top exec assured the Ericsson officials that the telecoms regulator will continue to do what is right to attract FDI for the development and growth of the telecom industry in Nigeria.

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